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England will leave Australia with the Ella-Mobbs trophy in their keeping after taking out the three-Test series with a thrilling 21-17 win over the Wallabies at the SCG.

Playing the likely last ever rugby Test match at the SCG, the Wallabies fell just short in their quest to farewell the iconic ground with a home-town victory on Saturday.

With Australia taking the opening win in Perth and England responding in Brisbane, Eddie Jones's men delivered when the pressure was on.

It backed up their 2016 series win in Australia, which was a 3-0 whitewash and relieved pressure on coach Jones after a run of poor Six Nations results.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who took over at the start of 2020, said there had been growth but felt they didn't play to their potential.

"It's disappointing because at this level you have you got to take your chances and and we left a lot out there," Rennie said.

"I reckon we're better than the result and better than the result last week.

"We had enough ball and territory and position to win, but we've got to be better."

Jones praised his team's leadership and also the youngsters in the team such as playmaker Marcus Smith and winger Tommy Freeman.

"We had to fight like anything and we kept in there," Jones said.

"We weren't at our best, which sometimes happens, but when you fight like that and win a game like that it's a big achievement."

The Wallabies created many more chances but were unable to turn their them into points with England's massive defensive effort also deserving praise.

Australia brought former NRL star Suliasi Vunivalu into the fray for his Test debut with three minutes remaining but the ex-Storm flyer was unable to find the match-winning try.

Smith delivered a crucial blow in the 55th minute when an Australian line-out went awry and Noah Lolesio failed to secure the loose ball.

Smith scooped it up and showed his blistering pace in racing 50m to touch down, with Owen Farrelly adding the extras for a 21-10 lead.

The Australians were able to hit back 10 minutes later when replacement hooker Folau Fainga'a burrowed over the line, closing the margin to four points.

The home side lived up to their promise to get off to a fast start but despite dominating territory and possession, found themselves trailing at halftime.

Poor execution and errors at key moments proved costly with Reece Hodge sending a ball sailing over the sideline, while prop Taniela Tupou was guilty of pushing passes that were never on.

While the halftime hooter sounded, England hammered the tryline before fullback Freddie Steward dived across to put his team ahead 11-10.

Australia's first-half try was scored by a hungry Tom Wright off a line-out, with Marika Koroibete sending a long ball out to his fellow winger.

He and Nic White combined before Wright raced to the line and Lolesio added the extras for a 7-3 lead after 26th minute.

Koroibete and Samu Kerevi were everywhere in attack while skipper Michael Hooper and lock Nick Frost, in his first Test start, also worked tirelessly but in the end it wasn't enough.

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Unions, medical experts and businesses have welcomed the federal government's choice to reinstate the $750 pandemic isolation payment following widespread criticism.

Speaking after a fast-tracked national cabinet meeting on Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said continuing the payment was appropriate with cases rising across the country.

"I want to make sure that people aren't left behind, that vulnerable people are looked after and that no-one is left with the unenviable choice of not being able to isolate properly without losing an income," he told reporters in Sydney.

The backflip means emergency payments for people who don't have sick leave but are forced to isolate due to COVID-19 will be reinstated from July 20 and last through to September 30.

The scheme originally lapsed on June 30.

The Commonwealth will split the $780 million bill with the states and territories but the prime minister could not say whether the payments would later be extended past September 30.

Both the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Council of Trade Unions welcomed the return of the payments, with ACTU secretary Sally McManus saying it meant workers didn't have to choose between isolating and putting food on the table.

Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid said isolation payments should be in place for as long as they're needed.

"The payments should never have been removed," he said on Saturday.

Mr Albanese warned Australians of the $1 trillion debt his government inherited.

"We do need to act on this (debt) and all state and territory governments understand that as well," Mr Albanese said.

"The truth is that we have real fiscal pressures and the measures put in place were temporary measures."

Meanwhile, Dr Khorshid said mask mandates should also be considered as a new coronavirus wave hits the country.

State premiers and Mr Albanese all urged Australians to wear masks where necessary, practice good hygiene and isolate to help curb cases.

"The best thing that we can do, and it's not a huge inconvenience to us, is to wear these masks and go and get your booster," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

Mr Albanese also announced a new telehealth program will start next week, allowing GPs to spend longer with patients to assess their suitability for COVID-19 antiviral treatments.

Dr Khorshid dubbed this move an "important step" but was critical of the dozens of medical items no longer available bulk-billed via telehealth, including longer consultations.

A national crisis payment for anyone with COVID-19 and in severe financial hardship will also be reinstated through to September 30.

National cabinet was told cases across the country were expected to peak in August.

Acting opposition leader Sussan Ley said the government should be prepared to continue the payments beyond September if needed.

"We can't have this stop, start continue to happen so I hope the government is well prepared to take the action they need to," Ms Ley told ABC News.

Greens leader Adam Bandt has urged Mr Albanese to extend them as well as free RATs for concession card holders.

Australia recorded more than 40,000 cases on Saturday along with 77 deaths. There are currently more than 4700 people in hospital.

LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:

NSW: 11,082 cases, 38 deaths, 2024 in hospital with 66 in ICU

Victoria: 9982 cases, eight deaths, 802 in hospital with 34 in ICU

Tasmania: 1662 cases, two deaths, 138 in hospital with five in ICU

Northern Territory: 424 cases, one death, 61 in hospital with two in ICU

Queensland: 5795 cases, 22 deaths, 921 in hospital with 14 in ICU

South Australia: 3863 cases, three deaths, 287 in hospital with nine in ICU

Western Australia: 6473 cases, three deaths, 351 in hospital with 17 in ICU

ACT: 1104 cases, no deaths, 156 in hospital with four in ICU

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Medicare will cover long consultations by GPs to prescribe COVID-19 antivirals within days.

Health Minister Mark Butler says the new temporary MBS items will include a longer consultation by phone so antivirals can be issued safely and to as many people as possible.

Millions of Australians are now eligible for antiviral access via the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme but need to start taking them within five days of symptoms.

Following a COVID-19 positive diagnosis, they will be able from next week to have a telephone or video consultation with a doctor to obtain a prescription, Mr Butler says.

"These antiviral medicines dramatically reduce the risk of severe disease, particularly for older Australians, and will help keep people out of hospital," he said on Saturday.

"Two antivirals are on the PBS meaning these treatments that normally cost more than $1000 will only be $6.80 for a concession card holder, and around $40 for everyone else.

"Doctors have told me it will be easier to get antivirals prescribed if they have access to this telehealth measure and that is why the government has acted today."

Mr Butler says people will need to be quick.

Thousands of Australians have already received the new treatments, with prescriptions doubling in the first days of July to around 14,000 per week.

Details of the MBS items will be available at www.mbsonline.gov.au. They will remain on the MBS until the end of October.

Mr Butler says the government's priority remains getting people vaccinated.

"If you haven't had your third or fourth dose, please book a free COVID-19 vaccine appointment today," he said.

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The federal government appears set to reinstate the $750 pandemic isolation payment following widespread criticism.

A national cabinet meeting on Saturday morning to discuss the latest COVID-19 wave was brought forward two days by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The fast-tracked gathering follows increasing pressure to reverse a decision to end emergency payments for people forced to isolate due to COVID-19 but without sick leave.

Expectations they will be restored also comes with more than 28,000 fresh infections and 71 deaths reported across NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territory on Saturday.

Mr Albanese is scheduled to hold a press conference around lunchtime.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly would report to cabinet and "we will discuss proposals to ensure the vulnerable are protected over coming weeks", the prime minister tweeted on Friday evening.

According to Nine newspapers, the prime minister will advocate for a time-limited reinstatement of the payments as infections skyrocket and hospitalisations increase.

The scheme lapsed on June 30.

Australian Medical Association national president Omar Khorshid says he was surprised by the initial decision to scrap the payments, given people are still required to isolate if they test positive.

"The last thing you need when you have such huge numbers of cases around is for the government to pull its supports for people to do the right thing," he told the ABC on Friday.

"Generally the government has extended the measures we continue to need because the pandemic is still here and affecting us."

Mr Albanese was briefed on Australia's current and expected caseloads by Professor Kelly and Health Department secretary Brendan Murphy on Friday afternoon.

"We know the COVID pandemic is not over and people should continue to act in accordance with the health advice," he said.

As Australians seek booster vaccines across the country, the government is also facing calls to extend the free rapid antigen test program until the end of winter.

Additionally, Mr Albanese acknowledges there has been a rapid rise in the use of antivirals in the past week.

The government expanded eligibility for fourth vaccine doses to anyone aged 30 and over earlier this month.

As of Thursday, nearly 14 million people had received three or more jabs, while almost three million had received four or more.

Acting opposition leader Sussan Ley says Mr Albanese "owes an apology to the tens of thousands of Australians who have faced stress and uncertainty" as a result of ending the pandemic payments.

Greens leader Adam Bandt has urged Mr Albanese to extend them as well as free RATs for concession card holders.

Australia recorded more than 43,000 cases and 66 deaths on Friday, with 4602 people in hospital.

LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:

NSW: 11,082 cases, 38 deaths, 2024 in hospital with 66 in ICU

Victoria: 9982 cases, eight deaths, 802 in hospital with 34 in ICU

Tasmania: 1662 cases, two deaths, 138 in hospital with five in ICU

Northern Territory: 424 cases, one death, 61 in hospital with two in ICU

Queensland: 5795 cases, 22 deaths, 921 in hospital with 14 in ICU

© AAP 2022